In brief
Victoria Police said on 6 November it would broaden Operation Phoenix, originally launched in July to tackle arson and drive‑by shootings in northwest Melbourne, to cover the entire city. The expansion will include dedicated overnight patrols, proactive targeting of known offenders, and integration with another effort that has led 5,800 arrests since 2023. Police also flagged a rise in young people being recruited to carry out organised crime‑related violence.
Victoria Police said on 6 November that their anti‑violence initiative, Operation Phoenix, would be expanded across metropolitan Melbourne, adding a focus on shootings, arson, and related organised crime.
According to a statement released by the agency, the operation was launched in July to crack down on extortion‑linked arson attacks, drive‑by shootings and so‑called crime‑as‑a‑service offences in the city's northwest suburbs. The police claim that the effort has already resulted in more than 230 arrests, a large share tied to organised crime groups.
Under the revised plan, officers will run dedicated overnight patrols designed to confront serious and violent crime at night. They will also conduct proactive patrols, target known offenders, and saturate high‑risk areas in Melbourne’s central business district, as well as in the south and east suburbs.
The expansion will bring in resources from a separate operation that has tackled aggravated burglaries and vehicle thefts. That operation has reportedly led to over 5,800 arrests since 2023, according to the police, and its teams will now collaborate with those addressing arson and shootings.
Victoria Police officials expressed concern that the exploitation of young offenders to act on behalf of organised crime is increasing. They warned that arson is frequently used as a tool to intimidate, influence and exert control within criminal networks.
In a brief note on its website, the police indicated that content would be updated in line with caretaker conventions following the upcoming state election on 28 November, but the page itself is currently unavailable.
ABC News had previously reported that the police would expand Operation Phoenix, but the page posted on the broadcaster’s site is now a 404 error, limiting the detail that could be presented.
These developments reflect Victoria Police’s intent to broaden its enforcement reach and to address a range of property and violent crime in a coordinated way across the city.
